Tacoma
Illustrated
Her History, Growth & Resources
A Comprehensive Review of the
City of Destiny
Chapter 6

By
Holice, Pam, and Deb

Extra special thanks to Holice B.
Young for transcribing this book. The excellent work she does
continues to help many researchers! Thanks also, to Pam Rietsch, for
sharing her books with genealogists!

Page 25

THE CHURCHES.

The class of people that settled Tacoma, and has continued to pour in
during these years of great growth, ha made churches and Sunday School
strong and prosperous.

The first church to enter the field and make good per pioneer record
was the Methodist Episcopal. The first church was organized December 11,
1875. The first sermon preached by a Methodist preacher on this town
site was delivered in a tent where the First congregational Church now
stands. The church on the corner of C and Seventh was built in 1878
under the leadership of Rev. Martin Judy. The old parsonage was built by
Rev. J. F. DeVore in 1882. The church was greatly enlarged in June,
1889, during the pastorate of Rev. Geo. C. Wilding. In the spring of
this same year, the new parsonage, corner of G and Eighth streets, was
built and furnished at a cost of about $4,500; and the Epworth Church in
Couulter's Addition was erected by the Young People's Methodist Alliance
of the First Church at a cost of $3,000. The following pastors have
served this church, viz.: Rev. C. H. Hoxie, two years; Rev. Martin Judy,
two years; Rev. John Parsons, one year; Rev. E/ Dudley and Rev.
Spaulding together, one year; Rev. J. Miller, one year; Rev. J. F.
DeVore, three years; Rev. J. A. Ward, one year; Rev. T. J. Massey, two
years; Rev. D. G. LeLourd, one year; and Rev. Geo. C. Wilding, the
present pastor, took charge of the church in September, 1888. Present
membership, about 450.

THE OLD TACOMA CHURCH.

Was organized by Rev. J. F. DeVore, October 30, 1884. The present
church was built in 1885. The following pastors have served this church:
Rev. J. F. DeVore, two years; Rev. G. A. Landen, two years. Rev, R. H.
Massey, the present pastor, took charge of the church September, 1888.

A mission Sunday school was started in 1882, which grew into the
present Central M. E. Church. This church was built by Rev. J. F. DeVore,
in 1884, and greatly enlarged by Rev. W. B. McMillin in 1889. The
society was organized in 1887, and the first pastor was Rev. G. A.
Landen, who was followed in 1888 by Rev. W. B. McMillin, the present
pastor. The present membership is about 150.

A small society has been formed at Fern Hill, and in June, 1889, Rev.
Geo. C. Wilding, dedicated a handsome little church that cost about
$3,000.

Lots have been secured in East Tacoma, and a church will be
constructed in a few weeks. Rev. B. F. Brooks is the pastor.

THE GERMAN M. E. CHURCH.

Was organized in April, 1883. A church and parsonage was built on D
and Thirteenth Streets, and the property was sold and buildings erected
on I and Twenty-eighth streets. The present membership is about 50. The
following pastors have served the church: Rev. Fr. Bonn; Rev. Mr.
Sinclair; Rev. J. Braner; Rev. Mr. Hansen, the present pastor, was
appointed in the autumn of 1887.

Rev. C. J. Larsen was appointed to work among the Scandinavian people
of Tacoma in 1884, and he organized a Methodist Church soon after his
arrival. In 1883 they built the church on Tacoma Avenue near Sixteenth
Street. They have a membership of 80. Rev. C. N. Hauge, the present
pastor, took charge in September, 1887.

THE METHODIST UNIVERSITY.

On Twenty-first and I Streets, to cost $65,000, is completed to the
top of the first story, and will be completed in six months.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Has been organized quite a number of years, and is become quite
strong, and prosperous. They are now enlarging their house of worship on
St. Helen's Avenue, and when completed it will be one of the best church
buildings in the city. They also have a church in East Tacoma, and will
soon have one in North Tacoma. Rev. M. S. Hartwell has been pastor of
the church for about one year. Rev. Thomas Sims is pastor of the
churches of East Tacoma and North Tacoma.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

Was organized, corner of Ninth and D. Streets, March 28, 1883. Its
first pastor was Rev. J. Beaven, who served this church one-year; his
successor was Rev. B. S. MacLafferty, who remained nearly four years. He
was followed by Rev. A. B. Banks, the present pastor, on May 1, 1888.
The church edifice was built in 1884, and dedicated on March 16. This
church has been very prosperous, and has now a membership of 225. A
mission church has been started in the East Addition and lots secured
for future churches at Fern Hill and Junett's Addition. The church has
been recently enlarged, and is now quite an attractive room. Rev. G. B.
Douglass is in charge of a Second Baptist Church, which has purchased
the old Presbyterian Church, building and located at the corner of Tenth
and K Streets.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

Was instituted the first Sabbath in February, 1884. The church
building is located on the corner of E and Thirteenth Streets. It has
had a season of prosperity, and now has an enrolled membership of 200. A
peculiar feature of this society is that it is now entirely out of debt.
The pastors have been Revs. Bruce Wolverton, Andrew Sweeney, H. K.
Sicafoose, and the present pastor, Rev. M. F. Redlien.

On august 30, 1885, the First Unitarian Church was organized, with
Rev. Geo. H. Greer, pastor. In January, 1888, the church edifice on
Tacoma Avenue and Third Street was dedicated. In December, 1888, Rev. W.
E. Copeland took the pastorate. There are now about 100 names on the
church roll, and the Sunday School numbers about 75. A fine new
parsonage has recently been built.

ST. LEO'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

Corner of D and Eleventh Streets, was erected in 1883. Rev. P. F.
Hylebos is rector. The congregation is large, and there is every
indication of thrift and growth.

Page 28

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Is making great progress in this city, and has quite a number of
societies.

The First Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, of which the Rev.
Ingebrigt Tollefson is pastor, though recently established, is moving
forward encouragingly and is doing a good work. This church is located
on I Street, between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets.

THE GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Located at 1307 I Street, is one of the old and strong ecclesiastical
organizations in the city. Rev. F. N. Wolf is the untiring pastor of
this church. Nor content with the large field he cultivates in the body
of the city, he has recently built a mission church in East Tacoma.

Rev. A. G. Anderson is the pastor of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran
Church. The congregation was organized in July, 1882, by Rev. Carlson.
In the summer of 1883 the first church was built on Tacoma Avenue. In
the spring of 1884, the present and first pastor took charge of the
church. The old church was sold, and their present commodious edifice
erected in the spring of 1889, at a cost of $15,000. The membership is
150.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Is one of the strong and influential churches of the city. several
years ago the society was organized, and a neat church building erected
on the corner of C and Eleventh Streets. In the spring of 1889 the old
church and site were sold for $50,000; lots were purchased on the corner
of G and Tenth, and immediately was began the erection of a handsome
church to cost some $40,000. In the meantime the congregation worshipped
ina tabernacle on the corner of G and Eleventh. The membership of the
church is almost 300. Rev. W. A. Mackey is and has been the pastor for a
number of years.

THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Was organized in January, 1888. Rev. Thomas MacGuire took charge of
the congregation in December, 1888. A corner has been secured at North J
and Ninth, and a church will soon be built.

THE THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Was instituted Jan. 28, 1889. A neat church was soon built on the
corner of A and Thirteenth Streets. The pastor is Rev. J. Osmond.

THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.

Among the churches that very early began their work in this city, is
to be placed the Protestant Episcopal. It has become a strong,
influential, and wealthy organization. Through the generous beneficence
of Mr. C. B. Wright, of Philadelphia, the St. Luke's Memorial Church,
corner of Sixth and C Streets, was built at a cost of some $30,000. Rev.
Lemuel H. Wells, is the rector. In Old Tacoma is St. Peter's Church,
with the "oldest church tower in the United States," being
simply a great cedar tree beheaded. The Church of the Holy Communion is
on E Street near Seventeenth, Rev. R. S. Carlin, Rector. Right Rev. John
A. Paddock, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Washington, resides in
Tacoma. Under the direction of this branch of the church is the Annie
Wright Seminary for girls, and the Washington College for boys. They are
doing a good work in the Fannie Paddock Hospital, the fine new building
being almost ready for occupancy. We learn that a handsome church is to
erected near the hospital.

THE SCANDINAVIAN FREE EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

Is located at the corner of G and Thirteenth Streets, and Rev. C. O.
Torgerson is he pastor.

THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST.

Have a church at the corner of K and Sixteenth Streets, with a small
organization.

THE NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.

Holds occasional services, but has not as yet effected an
organization. Geo. C. Wilding.